The shelter's manager and other employees remain at their posts for now as Mayor Martin Walsh's administration waits for an assessment by the Animal Rescue League before taking additional action.

The Animal Rescue League discovered the conditions at the shelter in the city's Roslindale section last month. In its assessment, the league said one dog was gaunt, dehydrated, and had open sores on its body. Other animals howled incessantly. Cats lay on single sheets of wet newspaper. Shelves held out-of-date medication and old food.

Dozens of animals have been moved to other shelters, and all have been examined by veterinarians.

"It's a very unfortunate situation, something that seems to have gone on for a long time," Walsh said. "We have an opportunity to expand the shelter and here we have animals abused and neglected."

Mary Nee, president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, called the conditions "very disturbing."

"We very much felt the need to act," she said.

The Walsh administration appointed John Meaney interim director of animal control.

"The staff [spirit] was kind of dead and the animals needed more attention," Meaney said. "A lot of them haven't seen training or had a staff meeting in years."

Animals lived without bedding or toys, according to the Animal Rescue League. Dogs were drenched because it appeared they were not being removed when runs were hosed downs. Dogs labeled as "strays" were confined to kennels and were not walked on leashes.